Inspired by a growing trend in Western Pennsylvania, North Versailles Twp. commissioners agreed to participate in the Military Banner Tribute Program.

Commission Vice President Sam Juliano and Commissioner George Thompson said the banners will be displayed along Route 30 and other roads.

“It’s a nice honor," Thompson said. "Bethel Park, for example, has over 100 of them on their streets.” The banners will be paid for by families of service members and will be on display from Memorial Day to Veterans Day, according to township manager Patricia Logo.

Dravosburg, East Pittsburgh, McKeesport and Port Vue also have participated in the troop banners program.

East Allegheny Marching Band will hold a pancake breakfast with Santa Claus on the morning of Dec. 15 at the North Versailles Twp. community center, 1401 Greensburg Ave.

On behalf of the parks and recreation department, township Commissioner Tracy Yusko said that other upcoming events include the North Versailles Twp. Christmas party at 6 p.m. Dec. 21.

The township will hold a contest to choose the "best decorated house," beginning on Dec. 1, with judging on Dec. 14. To nominate your own house or someone else's, call the township office at (412) 823-6602.

Home Depot gift cards will be presented to the winners at the Christmas party, Yusko said.

The North Versailles Twp. children’s Halloween party will be held from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday at the community center, 1401 Greensburg Ave., township Commissioner Tracy Yusko said on behalf of the parks and recreation department.

A missing child who was located after a search in May wrote a letter of apology to first responders from North Versailles Twp.

At the October meeting, township Commissioner Russell Saula read aloud from the letter sent to police and firefighters by Christopher Ramos, 8, who went missing for several hours in May, but was located safe in Wilmerding.

Ramos also sent police and firefighters cookies as a token of his gratitude, Saula said.

In other business, commissioners voted to accept a $25,000 grant for improvements to a restroom at West Wilmerding Park to make it compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Build it, and people will come --- at least that's the hope of Sam Juliano, vice president of the North Versailles Twp. commissioners. He wants to see about 90 acres of undeveloped land in the township's Green Valley section turned into a multi-purpose park.

At their October meeting, commissioners voted to enter into an agreement with TARQUINCoRE, LLC of Pittsburgh, which represents the property's owners, to accept the donation of nearly 90 acres of land currently owned by a real estate trust.

Commissioners George Beswick and Daryl Mitchell were absent. The land is located off of Maryland Avenue.

According to Juliano, the issue has been under discussion for several months. ”Now it's back on the table,” he said. ”Our commissioners did an assessment of this generous offer and determined there is an interest in acquiring ownership of five parcels.”

North Versailles Twp. commissioners are considering a request from people in the Arlington neighborhood for emergency repairs to an alley.

At this month's meeting, Ward 2 Commissioner Daryl Mitchell said the alley between Union and Broadway avenues is so bad, some residents can't get to their homes.

“One of the residents there can’t even back his car up, without going into a gutter --- that’s how bad it is,” Mitchell said. "With the rain we had recently, it has gotten worse ... I know we set a budget, but with all this rain we’ve had, it’s caused a lot of damage, all I’m asking is there some way we can help make some type of improvement in that alley.”

Commission President Sam Juliano said repairing the alley was on the township's paving “wish list” earlier this year, but it was deleted for budgetary concerns.

A North Versailles Twp. student’s landscape gardening project has brought him one step closer to earning the prestigious rank of Eagle Scout.

Last week at the township commissioners' regular monthly meeting, board President Frank Bivens presented Noah Martino, 17, with a certificate of recognition and accompanying plaque for successfully completing the North Versailles Park Beautification Project in June.

“I have one merit badge that I am finishing over the next two months, and then I will officially get the Eagle rank,” Martino said.

Easing into the 2018 football season won’t be an option for East Allegheny.

In what promises to be a schedule with plenty of obstacles, the Wildcats may face their two toughest tests before Labor Day.

East Allegheny opens the season at 7 p.m. Friday by taking on defending Class 1A PIAA champion Jeannette. The following week the Wildcats will go on the road to Steel Valley -- which is ranked in the top five in the PIAA in Class 2A -- for their Allegheny Conference opener.

“You’ll be hard-pressed to find anyone in the state that has a tougher first two games of the season than us,” East Allegheny coach Dom Pecora said. “But we’ll show up every Friday ready to play.”